VC Encore

[Square Oak]

Obtained a slightly used VC Encore in very good condition. Had a local "stove tech" examine the stove prior to installation and he suggested replacing the following parts:

Lower Fireback
Upper Fireback/Damper Assembly
Throat Hood
Grate

I possess average homeowner "skills," i.e. install and wire a dishwasher, minor plumbing, simple carpentry, etc. The Parts Diagram in the Encore Owner's Guide leads me to believe removing/replacing the above parts is relatively simple. I've been quoted $250.00 by the local stove tech ($100.00 per hour x 2.5 hours = $250.00) PLUS close to $400.00 for the replacement parts. $650.00 exceeds the price I paid for the stove including delivery charge.

Can these parts be installed by the typical homeowner? Any special tools required? Any pitfalls?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[redhat]

You can do it. Here are the detailed instructions to perform the work on an Encore 2550:

(broken link removed to http://www.vermontcastings.com/catalog/elements/files/2006/2003101_Fireback_5927.pdf)

 

[10-cc]

It is feasible but keep in mind that additional parts may require replacement:

- Joints: doors, fireback, damper, ash tray etc. (every major part on the Encore has a joint)
- Catalyst
-Catalyst housing (made of like foam material non combustible)
- Thermostat cable
- Secondary thermostat

I have an Encore 2550 striped out (will do a good outdoors stove out of it), it would cost me over 2000$ to rebuild.

Think about it

 

[phishheadmi]

Square Oak,

I just finished a similar rebuild in my VC Defiant Encore model 2190 and I would say with a little patience and a few visits to these message boards that you should be able to pull it off. I paid around $300 for my stove and all the accessories (warming shelves, fire screen, heat shields, etc) and put another $6-700 into it, doing the labor myself including replacing the catalytic converter and refractory package. Is this a catalytic stove? If so, count on another $200 for the catalytic converter which you may or may not have to replace (but I'd guess you will) and $300 for the refractory assembly (that houses the cat...again, you may or may not). Did the stove tech take apart the stove at all and inspect the cat/refractory package? If it's not a catalytic stove, I'd guess your material pricing is pretty well inline.

VC makes a "fireback kit" that includes the upper and lower fireback, throat hood, secondary thermostat and refractory package...the cat's a seperate purchase. You'll save close to a couple hundred bucks buying the fireback kit over buying everything individually, but they're tough to find...I got mine from a dealer in Philly, everyone locally said they couldn't get it. I think the rebuild kit is mainly for dealers so when you call for it they don't look up the right thing or something...maybe the dealers just don't want to sell it because it's significantly cheaper. If you decide to go this route, let me know and I'll forward the info for the dealer I used in Philly.

It's a coin toss weather or not to spend the $$ on rebuild or buy a new stove. You can certainly get a new stove for around the same $ that you'd spend on this one, but it won't be nearly as good looking or as nice a stove. I really love the porcelain look of the VC's so for me it was worth it. How old a stove is this? My understanding is that VC was bought out in 1995 and the quality went way downhill...mine's a 1993 which is another reason I was willing to put the $$ and effort into it.

Do a search on these forums for Encore or Defiant Encore and there'll be some recent threads from me and others working on our rebuilds.

 

[phishheadmi]

I forgot to mention, the other really nice thing about the fireback kit is that it comes with detailed instructions and all the gasket, cement and odds and ends you'll need. There are several different models of the encore, so you'll have to find out exactly which one you have.

 

[Crispy]

Why are all the links dead to all the documentation? Can someone wmail me the docs to [email protected]?
Crispy